Cheryl

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 2004, it was the 3rd strike for our family. Only having lost my father in-law to cancer in October of 2003, I was devastated to learn that my Dad was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in December of same year. The next month, January, I had to tell my already devastated family that I, too, had cancer. Never mind that I was facing a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery and possibly numerous rounds of chemo and radiation, I was heartbroken that the doctors couldn’t save my Dad.

Surgery was tough. At the end of June, doctors removed my right breast and did the reconstruction at the same time. I had drainage tubes sticking out of everywhere; my family nicknamed me “The Borg”. Recovery was especially hard for me, as I wanted to spend as much time with my Dad as I could. My Dad was my hero.

The doctors said they got all my cancer. Go, heal, and enjoy life and family. No chemo, no radiation. Reconstruction, after the mastectomy, was important for me as I was large busted and having a hard time imagining not having a breast. I also had my nipple reconstructed and tattooed. I didn’t think it would be an issue for me but I found myself looking at the reconstructed breast every time I got out of the shower. It was a constant reminder to me of what I had been through and I needed to move on to more important things like living and spending time with my family so getting the nipple redone helped me to achieve that.

Life is much too short, and so very precious. We need to live it with our loved ones and not live in fear of cancer. Hi, I’m Cheryl Rivers and I am a breast cancer survivor for over 4 years. I am married to the love of my life for 26 years, Wayne; and we have 2 beautiful daughters, Amanda and Ashley.

Check out the video at winnipegwomen.net of Dr. Ed Buchel in the Operating Room demonstrating some of the surgical and patient monitoring equipment purchased by Keeping Abreast.